What makes the Boeing 707 so special?

The Boeing 707, the first medium- to long-haul passenger jetliner, took to the skies in 1957. Hugely popular in its heyday, it became a symbol of a new, high-flying era, powered by cutting-edge technology and design. The aircraft itself remains a remarkable achievement—a bold commercial gamble and an elegant, enduring design admired to this day. As the saying went, “If it ain’t Boeing, I’m not going.”

Entering commercial service with Lufthansa in 1960, the 707 revolutionized air travel. Dominating passenger transport throughout the 1960s and remaining common into the 1970s, the 707 is widely credited with ushering in the Jet Age. Beyond its technical prowess, the “7-o-7” stood as a sleek, modern symbol of the emerging West German–U.S. Trans-Atlantic partnership in the postwar years.

The cockpit section will be meticulously cleaned, painted, and restored to 100% Lufthansa Boeing 707-330B standard. Thanks to parts, instruments, and panels I’ve collected from Lufthansa 707s around the world, this ambitious restoration is now possible. This is a non-commercial project, and I’ll be sharing my knowledge and progress here on this website. Every contribution helps – your support truly makes a difference.

Originally, the 707 Simulator project began with a different nose section (N707QJ), but it has now been replaced with the original Lufthansa nose section. While this caused a slight delay, the historical value of D-ABOD makes it well worth it. A special personal connection: both of my parents worked on this aircraft with Lufthansa.

If you’re wondering about the scale of this project, check out this [YouTube video]. Support and guidance are coming from all corners of the globe, from maintenance engineers to software developers. Every bit of help is deeply appreciated – and you can be part of bringing this iconic aircraft back to life.